“THE COLUMBIA GORGE COWBOY GATHERING”
-- TO PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THE COWBOY AND RANCHER LIFESTYLE THROUGH POETRY AND MUSIC—
The 2nd Annual COLUMBIA GORGE COWBOY GATHERING, presented by The Dalles Civic Auditorium and The Fort Dalles Riders Association, will be held at The Dalles Civic Auditorium on Saturday, November 29, 2008.
The Columbia Gorge Cowboy Gathering is proud to introduce our Special Guest of the evening. WADDIE MITCHELL, “America’s best known Cowboy Poet” (People Magazine), spent twenty-five years as a working buckaroo in the Nevada desert, before becoming a full-time poet and performer, so he speaks with the voice of experience.
“Western Horseman” magazine calls him,” Probably the most recognized real cowboy in the world today”, and we at The Dalles Civic Auditorium and The Fort Dalles Riders are delighted to have Waddie Mitchell as the main attraction for the 2 nd Annual Columbia Gorge Cowboy Gathering.
Our evening performance will start at 7:oo P.M. Opening the show will be Event Host/Cowboy Poet Duane Nelson, from The Dalles. Duane writes his own poetry, and also covers some “classics”. “A poem doesn’t have to be old to be a classic; there has been plenty of poetry written is the last twenty years or so that deserve to be considered a classic!”
Van and Kathy Criddle of Eugene, Oregon, a crowd favorite at the 1st Annual Gathering, will be on hand to entertain with their own blend of poetry and music. Van is an award-winning poet and on the Board of Directors of The Western Music Association; Kathy provides the music and, as Van says, is the good-looking one.
Also on hand will be the Wasco Brothers, playing original cowboy and Western songs.
Once again, the Gathering will feature Open Mic sessions all day, from 11:00 A.M. till 5: P.M. Participants are welcome to sign up and perform original works, or cover the old classics. There will be Western Lifestyle vendors on hand to showcase their wares, and food will be available later in the day. There is no charge for the Open Mic sessions. For additional info see, thedallescivic.org.
